Introduction
In quarrying, the quality of your explosives defines the quality of your operation. From the precision of fragmentation to the safety of every blast cycle, the right commercial explosives technology transforms a standard quarry into a high-performance production site.
At ELTEK SA, we are proud that quarries throughout Greece, Eastern Europe, and the Scandinavian countries have trusted and used our commercial explosives for years — and continue to rely on them for their most demanding operations. This deep, long-standing trust from the quarrying industry across an entire continent speaks volumes about the performance, reliability, and technical excellence of our products.
As the fastest-growing explosives production and trading company in Southeastern Europe, ELTEK brings together Swiss engineering heritage — through our strategic partnership with Société Suisse des Explosifs (SSE) — and cutting-edge manufacturing to deliver a complete range of blasting solutions purpose-built for quarry environments.
Discover how ELTEK SA’s advanced emulsion explosives — including Explo ANFO, Explo Gel 100, Explo Gel 200, HYDRA 6000 & 750S — deliver superior fragmentation, safety, and cost efficiency for quarry operations across Europe.
Why Quarry Blasting Demands Precision Explosives Technology
Modern quarrying is far more than simply breaking rock. It requires a sophisticated balance of energy distribution, fragmentation control, environmental compliance, and cost optimization. The explosives used in quarry blasting must deliver consistent detonation velocities, predictable gas volumes for effective displacement, excellent water resistance for variable borehole conditions, low toxic fume emissions for regulatory compliance, and reliable performance across different rock formations and geological conditions.
ELTEK’s product portfolio has been engineered to meet every one of these demands, providing quarry operators with a comprehensive toolkit that covers everything from standard bench blasting to the most challenging wet-hole applications.
ELTEK’s Commercial Explosives for Quarry Operations
Explo ANFO — The Reliable Workhorse for Dry-Hole Quarrying
Explo ANFO is a general-purpose explosive produced by mixing porous ammonium nitrate with diesel oil, achieving uniform distribution through precision spray nozzles (injectors). It remains the most widely used product in quarry blasting worldwide, and ELTEK’s formulation delivers exceptional free-flow characteristics for optimal loading in vertical boreholes.
| Density | 0.80 g/cm³ |
| Detonation Velocity | >2,500 m/s |
| Heat of Explosion | 3,649 kJ/kg |
| Gas Volume | 981 L/kg |
| Relative Weight Strength (RWS) | 100% |
| Borehole Diameter | >65 mm (surface), >40 mm (underground) |
Explo ANFO provides optimal charge density because the explosive column fills the entire borehole diameter, resulting in maximum rock fragmentation at the lowest operational cost per cubic meter. It is initiated with a booster (Explo Gel 100) placed at the base of the hole, using non-electric or electric detonators and detonating cord.
Explo Gel 100 — Cap-Sensitive Performance for Surface Applications
Explo Gel 100 is a cap-sensitive explosive emulsion designed specifically for quarries, surface applications, road construction, and other projects requiring reliable blasting. It also serves as a powerful booster for less sensitive products such as Explo ANFO and Explo Gel 750S, making it an incredibly versatile component in any quarry’s blasting program.
| Density | 1.15 ±0.05 g/cm³ |
| Detonation Velocity | 5,300 ± 200 m/s |
| Heat of Explosion | 3,232 kJ/kg |
| Gas Volume | 923 L/kg |
| Relative Weight Strength (RWS) | 110% |
| Relative Bulk Strength (RBS) | 130% |
Key advantages include excellent water resistance, very low release of toxic fumes, high gas volume production, excellent safety against mechanical impact and friction, and easy loading. Available in cartridge sizes from 28×410 mm to 90×540 mm.
Explo Gel 200 — High-Performance for Demanding Quarry Environments
Explo Gel 200 is a high-performance, safe-to-use, cap-sensitive explosive emulsion that combines great detonation speed and high energy during firing. It contains aluminium powder to enhance its energy output, making it suitable for both underground and surface quarry operations across all rock types.
| Density | 1.15 ±0.05 g/cm³ |
| Detonation Velocity | 5,800 ± 200 m/s |
| Heat of Explosion | 3,709 kJ/kg |
| Gas Volume | 936 L/kg |
| Relative Weight Strength (RWS) | 118% |
| Relative Bulk Strength (RBS) | 141% |
With a minimum critical diameter of just 25 mm and excellent water resistance, Explo Gel 200 excels in variable quarry conditions. It produces low toxic gas content and ensures reduced face approach time after detonation — critical for maintaining high production cycles.
Explo Gel HYDRA 6000 — The Flagship for Hard Rock Quarries
When quarries face extremely resistant rock formations, Explo Gel HYDRA 6000 is the definitive answer. As the flagship emulsion of the Explo Gel series, it combines the highest detonation velocity and unrivalled energy output in the ELTEK product range. It is the top choice to replace the use of gelatine dynamite, delivering excellent results.
| Density | 1.22 ±0.05 g/cm³ |
| Detonation Velocity | 6,200 ± 200 m/s |
| Heat of Explosion | 4,466 kJ/kg |
| Gas Volume | 940 L/kg |
| Relative Weight Strength (RWS) | 141% |
| Relative Bulk Strength (RBS) | 170% |
| Minimum Critical Diameter | 22 mm |
With its aluminium-enhanced formulation and exceptional energy delivery, HYDRA 6000 is purpose-engineered for quarries dealing with basalt, granite, gneiss, and other extremely hard formations where conventional products fall short.
Explo Gel 750S — The Solution for Large-Diameter, Water-Bearing Boreholes
Many quarry operations face the challenge of water ingress in boreholes. Explo Gel 750S is a booster-sensitive explosive emulsion with high density (1.25 g/cm³), specifically designed to sink into boreholes containing water and even mud suspensions. It releases a large amount of energy and produces large quantities of satisfactorily crushed aggregates in soft and fragmented rocks, achieving low mining costs.
| Density | 1.25 ±0.05 g/cm³ |
| Detonation Velocity | 5,000 ± 200 m/s (without confinement) |
| Heat of Explosion | 2,720 kJ/kg |
| Gas Volume | 950 L/kg |
| Relative Weight Strength (RWS) | 110% |
| Relative Bulk Strength (RBS) | 150% |
| Minimum Critical Diameter | 50 mm |
Its high energy allows for extended drilling patterns, reducing the number of boreholes required and lowering overall blasting costs — a significant economic advantage for high-volume quarry operations.
The ELTEK Technology Advantage
What sets ELTEK apart from conventional explosives suppliers is our commitment to technological excellence and continuous product verification. Our facilities in Grevena, Greece, include Europe’s only Detonation Chamber — a unique testing infrastructure that allows us to test and validate every batch of explosives under controlled conditions before delivery. This means quarry operators receive products with guaranteed and verified performance specifications, every time.
Our production facility, built across 140,000 m² of privately owned land with 27 modern industrial buildings, operates at a capacity of 4 tonnes/hour for emulsion explosives and 10 tonnes/hour for ANFO — ensuring reliable supply even for the largest quarry operations.
All products are manufactured under strict ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management), ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management), and ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health & Safety) certification, accredited by TÜV AUSTRIA HELLAS.
Trusted Across Europe — From Greece to Scandinavia
We are proud that quarries in Greece, the Balkans (Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Romania, Serbia), Central Europe (Germany, Poland), and the Scandinavian countries have tested and relied on ELTEK’s commercial explosives for years. This pan-European trust has been built on consistent product quality, reliable delivery through our fleet of 16 ADR EX III certified trucks, and hands-on technical support from our experienced team of blasting engineers.
Every transport is conducted in strict compliance with international safety regulations, from packaging to final delivery. Our drivers are trained and certified by the competent authorities for the transport of explosives both within Greece and internationally.
Quick Product Comparison — ELTEK Quarry Explosives
| Product | Density (g/cm³) | VOD (m/s) | Energy (kJ/kg) | Best For | Water Res. |
| Explo ANFO | 0.80 | >2,500 | 3,649 | Dry holes | No |
| Explo Gel 100 | 1.15 | 5,300 | 3,232 | Surface | Yes |
| Explo Gel 200 | 1.15 | 5,800 | 3,709 | All types | Yes |
| HYDRA 6000 | 1.22 | 6,200 | 4,466 | Hard rock | Yes |
| Explo Gel 750S | 1.25 | 5,000 | 2,720 | Wet holes | Yes |
Partner with ELTEK for Your Quarry Operations
Whether you operate a limestone quarry in Greece, a granite operation in Scandinavia, or an aggregate production site anywhere across Eastern Europe, ELTEK has the products, the technology, and the expertise to elevate your blasting performance.
Contact our team of blasting engineers to discuss the optimal explosives solution for your specific quarry conditions and production requirements.
🏢 ELTEK SA — Headquarters: Agalaioi, Grevena 51100, Greece
☎ Phone: +30 2462 770 000 | Crete Office: +30 2831 033 348
✉ Email: info@eltek.com.gr | Web: www.eltek.com.gr
